Package leaflet · Information for the musician · Scale
C sharp Phrygian Dominant Scale
Exotic, fiery and dramatic. The flat second combined with a major third produces the classic flamenco and Middle Eastern sound.
- 7 notes
- 4 ♯
- exotic
1Composition: what it contains
C♯ – D – E♯ – F♯ – G♯ – A – B
- Formula
- 1 ♭2 3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7
- Steps
- H – W+H – H – W – H – W – W
- Number of notes
- 7
- Sharps and flats
- 4 ♯
- Also called
- Spanish Phrygian, Freygish, Hijaz (approximately), fifth mode of harmonic minor
| Degree | Note | Interval | Semitones |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | C♯ | unison | 0 |
| ♭2 | D | minor second | 1 |
| 3 | E♯ | major third | 4 |
| 4 | F♯ | perfect fourth | 5 |
| 5 | G♯ | perfect fifth | 7 |
| ♭6 | A | minor sixth | 8 |
| ♭7 | B | minor seventh | 10 |
2Appearance: diagrams and sound
Tip: click any note, key or fret to hear it. Orange = root.
3Indications: what it is used for
The fifth mode of the harmonic minor scale (1-♭2-3-4-5-♭6-♭7). It fits the V7 chord in a minor key, especially V7♭9 resolving to i, and the Andalusian cadence (iv–III–♭II–I in Phrygian terms) used in flamenco. It drives klezmer, Arabic-inspired pop, belly-dance music, neoclassical metal and surf rock. Over a static major chord with a half-step-above major chord (I–♭II), it creates an instant Spanish atmosphere. Rock guitarists also use it for exotic riffs over a pedal on the root.
4Dosage: how to practise it
Ten minutes daily over a I–♭II–I vamp at 80–110 BPM. Isolate the ♭2-3 augmented second and play it until it is accurate. Practise sixteenth-note runs in groups of four and triplet-based patterns typical of flamenco. On guitar, alternate the root on the lowest open string with scale fragments higher up, or use three-notes-per-string runs. On piano, play the major chord with a flat ninth in the left hand. In a minor ii–V–i, use it on the V7 and resolve to the minor third of the i chord.
5Warnings and common mistakes
Do not confuse it with the Phrygian mode: here the third is major. It is a dominant sound, so over a minor tonic chord the major third will clash; switch to harmonic minor or natural minor when the harmony resolves. The flat sixth over a dominant chord with a natural thirteenth clashes. Spelling: the augmented second (♭2 to 3) must be written as different letter names, not as a minor third.
6Interactions with chords, scales and keys
Chords of the scale (triads)
| Degree | Chord | Notes | Listen |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | C♯ | C♯ – E♯ – G♯ | |
| ♭II | D | D – F♯ – A | |
| iii° | E♯dim | E♯ – G♯ – B | |
| iv | F♯m | F♯ – A – C♯ | |
| v° | G♯dim | G♯ – B – D | |
| ♭VI+ | Aaug | A – C♯ – E♯ | |
| ♭vii | Bm | B – D – F♯ |
Chords of the scale (seventh chords)
| Degree | Chord | Notes | Listen |
|---|---|---|---|
| I7 | C♯7 | C♯ – E♯ – G♯ – B | |
| ♭IImaj7 | Dmaj7 | D – F♯ – A – C♯ | |
| iii°7 | E♯dim7 | E♯ – G♯ – B – D | |
| iv(maj7) | F♯m(maj7) | F♯ – A – C♯ – E♯ | |
| vø7 | G♯m7♭5 | G♯ – B – D – F♯ | |
| ♭VI+maj7 | A+maj7 | A – C♯ – E♯ – G♯ | |
| ♭vii7 | Bm7 | B – D – F♯ – A |
Same notes, different starting point
7Other presentations available
The same scale from every note
- C Phrygian Dominant Scale
- D Phrygian Dominant Scale
- E flat Phrygian Dominant Scale
- E Phrygian Dominant Scale
- F Phrygian Dominant Scale
- F sharp Phrygian Dominant Scale
- G Phrygian Dominant Scale
- G sharp Phrygian Dominant Scale
- A Phrygian Dominant Scale
- B flat Phrygian Dominant Scale
- B Phrygian Dominant Scale
Other scales from the same note
- D flat Major Scale
- C sharp Natural Minor Scale
- C sharp Harmonic Minor Scale
- C sharp Melodic Minor Scale
- C sharp Dorian Mode
- C sharp Phrygian Mode
- D flat Lydian Mode
- D flat Mixolydian Mode
- C sharp Locrian Mode
- D flat Major Pentatonic Scale
- C sharp Minor Pentatonic Scale
- C sharp Blues Scale
- D flat Major Blues Scale
- D flat Whole Tone Scale
- C sharp Half-Whole Diminished Scale
- C sharp Whole-Half Diminished Scale
- C sharp Hungarian Minor Scale
- D flat Lydian Dominant Scale
- C sharp Altered Scale
- C sharp Double Harmonic Major Scale
- D flat Bebop Dominant Scale
Read this leaflet carefully before playing. Keep it near your instrument. Free to use, print and share for personal and educational use.